Commission To View Plans For New Outdoor Pool

GLASTONBURY — The planning and zoning commission will see drawings Tuesday for an outdoor pool, large enough for competitions, proposed for Addison Park.

Last November, voters approved spending $800,000 to build the pool. Before park and recreation officials can begin, they must obtain permits from the town and the state.

Officials wanted a new pool because there are only two public outdoor swimming areas in town. The new six-lane, L-shaped pool would serve the north end of town.

Although the northwest section of town is the most densely populated, it has no outdoor pool. Grange Pool, on Hopewell Road, is near South Glastonbury and Eastbury Pond is in East Glastonbury, on Fisher Hill Road.

``It's difficult especially for children to get access to Eastbury Pond or Grange Pool,'' said Ray Purtell, director of parks, recreation and facilities maintenance. ``They need their parents to drive them. At Addison Park, I foresee a lot of kids in the neighborhood walking or biking. It's very conveniently located.''

The main portion of the pool would be 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. A shallow-water alcove, 30 feet by 30 feet, would be attached, and there would be a bathhouse. Both the pool and bathhouse could be used by handicapped people.

Town officials hope to go out to bid later this year and complete construction by the beginning of next summer, Purtell said.

The commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the town council chambers at town hall.

Also on the commission's agenda is a public hearing on a proposal by John Anagnos to build a helicopter landing pad at his residence at 90 Belltown Road in South Glastonbury. Anagnos owns the City Fish Market in Wethersfield.

Anagnos has stated that the helicopter is a 125-horsepower two- seater designed for personal and recreational use. He is also seeking a special permit to build a garage for it.

At least one neighbor is not happy about the plan. In a letter to the town, John M. Leahy said the landing pad would be 3,500 feet from his living room. An aerial beacon guiding military and commercial air traffic from surrounding airports is already in the neighborhood, he said.

``Over the past 15 to 30 years, we have routinely experienced low-flying [fixed wing] aircraft buzzing the neighborhood,'' Leahy said in the letter. ``And my wife and I are not now anxious to see low-flying civilian helicopters over our rooftop as well.''